Matt Williams: The root cause of low ball-in-play time in matches can be traced back to the current scrum laws presided over by rugby’s governing authorities
The root cause of low ball-in-play time in matches can be traced back to the current scrum laws presided over by rugby’s governing authoritiesSouth Africa scrumhalf Faf de Klerk prepares to put in during one of the many scrums in the second Test between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park stadium in Durban. Photograph: Wikus De Wet/AFP via Getty Images
After enduring so much horror, he was asked who were the ones who did not make it out of that traumatic POW camp? When the ball is in play, rugby is the greatest spectator sport in the world. It is beautiful to watch and glorious to play. Yet it is the game’s own laws, dictated by our governing body, that are actually stopping the amount of game time that is allowed to be played.
If we drill down deeper we find that across the entire 80 minutes, the Springboks attacked for only 15.36 minutes with Ireland attacking for 14.47 minutes. In other words, for 65 minutes and 13 seconds, which is more than two thirds of the match, there was no Irish attacking play. The scrum must be brought back to its original purpose, “a contest for possession to restart play” and to provide the best backline attacking platform in the game.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Matt Williams: French Top 14 fast becoming what English Premier League is to soccerMatt Williams: If a solution is not soon found to create a feasible global club calendar, Australian rugby may soon face an era of irreversible decline
Read more »
Matt Williams: Ridicule less - remember that your sporting heroes are humanNot having an Irish team in the URC decider could be a good thing
Read more »
Matt Williams: South Africa will win this test against Ireland, and the reasons are clearPaul O’Connell has hinted at an approach that could trouble the Springboks - but an Irish victory on Saturday would require a truly exceptional performance
Read more »
'I don't know if it's dangerous. It's one individual who said that'Boks boss Erasmus had plenty of praise for Ireland but disagrees with Matt Williams.
Read more »
Vogue Williams thinks husband Spencer is 'mad' as he attempts world recordMade in Chelsea's Spencer Matthews will be attempting to run 30 marathons in 30 days in the desert to raise money for charity and in a bid to have a Guinness World Record
Read more »
Matt Damon's four-word warning to Ben Affleck amid J.Lo divorce rumoursJenny from the Block singer Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are reportedly living separate lives amid rumours their marriage is on the rocks and heading for divorce
Read more »